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AGRICULTURAL 

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DATE  DUE                         1 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACEIUSETTS 
LIBRARY 


INDIAN  COEN 


>x 


Hon.  M.  W.  DAVIS,  of  Westminster, 


Member  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture. 


MONTPELIER: 

VERMONT  WATCHMAN  &  STATE  JOURNAL  PRESS. 

1886. 


(o  3  3.  /  -5 


I]\DIAN  CORN. 


By  Hon.  M.  W.  Davis,  of  Westminster,  Member  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture. 


This  is  no  new  theme,  not  a  new  plant  introduced  into  this  country 
of  ours  for  experiment.  For  hundreds  of  years  it  has  been  known 
to  our  people,  and  for  centuries  to  the  people  of  Peru,  South  Amer- 
ica. The  colonist  at  Jamestown  and  Plymouth  found  the  natives 
successfully  cultivating  it.  I  believe  it  is  indigenous  to  Amei'ica  hav- 
ing been  found  in  thevicinit3'of  the  Rocky  mountains  in  later  time  in 
its  original  t^'pe,  when  every  kernel  or  berry  of  its  fruit  was  enclosed 
in  a  separate  clothing  of  husk,  which,  from  cultivation,  has  been 
thrown  off.  Now,  3'ou  and  I  have  cultivated  this  plant  for  more 
than  forty  years,  annually  raising  a  crop.  We  have,  as  we  thought, 
carefully  traced  up  the  seed,  talked  of  the  wholesome  corn  bread,  en- 
joj'ed  in  past  time  the  corn  husking,  etc.,  so  much  so  that  it  would 
seem  at  first  we  had  a  full  and  complete  knowledge  of  all  that  per- 
tained to  it.  But  I  fear  when  we  come  to  give  thought  to  the  matter 
there  is  very  much  we  may  learn  that  will  be  useful  and  interesting 
to  us.  I  am  free  to  admit  myself  that  mj^  own  knowledge  must,  to 
3^ou,  at  every  step  I  take  here,  seem  limited  while  attempting  to  un- 
solve  its  mysteries.  But  I  am  incited  to  new  developments,  not  al- 
together in  the  stud}'  of -its  botanical  structure  and  natural  history,  but 
its  usefulness  and  as  a  necessity  with  an  increased  cultivation  in  a  wise 
ordered  agriculture  in  Vermont.  Not  onl}'  would  I  try  to  infuse  new 
light  and  interest  mingled  with  intelligence  among  the  active  farmers 
of  my  state,  but  to  interest  them  in  the  cultivation  of  this  farm  crop 
in  priority  to  any  other  upon  the  farm,  except  grass,  and  during  a 
few  years  past  of  drouth,  it  ma}'  be  said  to  be  "■king."  But  I  would 
at  the  same  time  try  to  interest  the  boy  who  holds  the  cultivator,  or 
the  girl  who  shells  papa's  seed  corn,  or  husks  to  find  the  variegated  ear, 
how  the  plant  grows,  that  increasing  knowledge  may  be  united  with 
their  labor,  that  irksomeness  be  obliterated  so  far,  in  farm  life. 
Indian  corn  has  great  flexibilit}'  of  character,  adapting  itself  to  a 
great  variety  of  soils  and  climate,  indigenous  to  no  arbitrary  time  or 
latitude,  ranging  through  some  seven  degrees  isothermal  in  its  north- 
erly line  westward.  In  New  Brunswick  46  '^  north,  45  *^  in  Maine, 
44  "^  in  New  Hampshire,  47  '^  in  Quebec,  descending  again  in  New 
York  and  Canada  West  to  46  '^ ,  and  when  the  line  approaches  the 
cooling  influences  of  the  lakes  drops  to  45  "^  until  almost  to  Minne- 
sota. On  reaching-  Lake  Winnipeg  ascends  to  50  '^ ,  and  sometimes 
51  '^ ,  the  most  northern  limit  of  its  cultivation  on  this  continent. 
This  line  terminates  abruptly  on  the  120  "^  longitude,  west  of  which 
it  cannot  be  raised,  and  must  have  a  mean  temperature  of  65  '^  above 
zero  at  least  two  and  a  half  months  of  each  year,  while  in  latitudes 


of  a  much  higher  temperature,  it  adapts  itself  readily.  While  there 
is  but  a  single  species  of  Indian  corn  as  I  have  described  the  origi- 
nal, all  the  multitudinous  varieties  in  size,  shape  and  color,  from  the 
smallest  pop  corn  with  a  tiny  ear,  not  more  than  two  inches  long, 
eight  rowed,  and  stalks  of  two  feet  in  length,  to  the  thirty-six  rowed 
ears  fifteen  inches  long,  having  more  than  six  hundred  kernels,  with 
stalks  twenty  feet  high,  requiring  periods  of  growth  ranging  from 
sixty  days  to  two  hundred.  With  us  about  one  hundred  days  with 
medium  variet}' properl}' adapted.  There  is  a  great  diversity  in  the 
internal  and  external  structure  of  the  kernels.  Some  are  smooth, 
with  an  enamel  of  thick,  flinty  substance,  sometimes  known  as  Flint 
corn ;  then  there  are  others  with  an  indentation,  long,  flat  kernel, 
grown  extensively  in  the  West  and  South,  known  as  "Dent"  corn. 
Some  kernels  grow  deep  upon  the  cob,  and  some  shallow.  Then  the 
internal  structure  varies  in  composition,  some  varieties  possessing  a 
large  amount  of  oil  and  less  starch,  and  others  vice  versa,  varying 
widely  in  the  amounts  of  gluten,  dextrine  and  phosphate.  At  a  glance 
we  see  this  wonderful  diversit}''  as  we  bring  side  hy  side  the  little  ear 
of  pop  corn,  white, 3^ ellow,  red,  smooth  kernel  or  bearded,  the  "  flint" 
white,  red  or  yellow,  eight  rowed  to  ten  or  twelve,  and  the  "  dent" 
white,  red  and  yellow,  from  twentj^  to  thirty-six  rowed,  with  now  and 
then  a  variegated  colored  ear  from  each  variety,  we  exclaim,  wonder- 
ful !  What !  all  from  one  variety  ?  That  little  native  corn  plant 
producing  fruit  so  susceptible  of  change,  almost  losing  its  original 
identity.  Now  the  characteristics  of  each  variety  evidently'-  mark 
the  market  value  for  feeding  purposes  or  manufacturing.  The  man 
who  knows  the  characteristics  of  his  animals  knows  how  to  feed  them, 
instead  of  running  in  the  old  rut,  believing  corn  is  corn  and  a  cow  is 
a  cow. 

I  now  come  to  the  inquiry  which  you  are  making,  and  of  the  most 
importance  to  you  and  me  (though  I  will  hint  at  the  auxiliaries  so  as 
to  have  an  intelligent  system),  and  that  inquiry  embraces  soil  and 
climate,  as  well  as  system. 

WHAT    SOIL? 

You  have  answered  this  question  mentally  before  I  write  it.  A 
light,  warm  soil,  inclined  to  East  and  South,  rich  in  phosphates  and 
potash  ;  and  maximum  crops  cannot  be  raised  profitably  on  land  of 
opposite  character  or  deficient  in  them.  I  say  raise  corn  on  "  corn 
land."  But  says  one,  "  I  have  but  one  piece  upon  my  farm  adapted 
to  corn  ;  "  if  so,  keep  corn  upon  it.  I  care  not  if  for  forty  years  it 
will  require  but  a  small  amount  of  manure  annually  to  keep  up  the 
productiveness  of  that  soil ;  if  the  farm  has  not  even  that  piece  don't 
raise  any,  for  the  presumption  is  that  it  is  a  grass  farm,  and  had  prob- 
abl}'  better  be  devoted  largelj',  if  not  exclusively,  to  that  crop.  Corn 
must  have  a  right  climate,  though,  as  I  have  stated,  it  can  be  raised 
as  far  north  as  51  °,  but  only  in  small  quantities.  It  is  a  tropical 
plant,  likes  light  and  heat,  even  moisture,  though  it  will  stand  drouth 
remarkably.  I  say  it  demands  heat.  It  cannot  be  matured  in  Eng- 
land, although  the  mean  temperature  is  above  New  Hampshire.     It 


4 

has  been  found  far  up  among  the  mountains  of  the  Alps,  because 
there  it  receives  the  shelter  of  the  mountains,  and  the  hot  rays  of  the 
sun  are  reflected  upon  it,  keeping  the  temperature  high.  Although 
we  may  have  the  soil  and  climate,  it  must  have  culture,  and  this 
means  a  certain  method  of  manipulation  and  fertilization.  This 
brings  me  to  Nature's  God  where  we  may  briefly  study  his  unerring 
laws,  and  b}'  the  aid  of  these  drawings  taken  by  the  artistic  hand 
during  the  stages  of  its  growth,  I  hope  to  interest  the  children  in  at- 
tempting to  tell 

HOW   CORN   GROWS. 

Now  a  kernel  of  corn  is  a  very  small  thing,  but  in  corn  raising  it 
is  important,  an  absolute  necessity.  When  the  school-teacher  gave 
the  question  to  three  little  boys,  "  For  what  use  is  Indian  corn  most 
important?"  after  due  deliberation  one  hand  went  up,  "To  grind  into 
meal  to  feed  the  horse  ;  "  then  another  hand,  "  To  make  into  bread  ;" 
then  a  third  hand,  "To  plant."  That  is  it,  and  it  should  be  per- 
fectly adapted  to  the  location  and  situation  ;  if  it  be  imperfect  we 
may  expect  many  imperfect  plants,  evidently  deteriorating  the  crop. 
If  with  a  sharp  knife  the  side  of  the  kernel  is  removed,  by  a  little 
magnifying  glass  can  be  seen  the  proportion  of  oily  and  starchy  sub- 
stances.    Each  variety  contains : 

OOOQ  TfO 

No.  1,  Pop  corn ;  No.  2,  King  Philip  ;  No.  3,  Mexican  ;     No.  4,  Tuscarora; 
No.  5,  Shoe-peg ;  No.  6,  Improved  Gourd-Seed  Corn. 


The  next  steps  are  well  shown  in  Dr.  Cutting's  work  on  Plant 
Growth,  and  I  reproduce  the  cuts  there  used. 


Fig.  2. 


INDIAN  CORN. 
A  sprouted — B  where  stalk  is  two  inches  high. 

Fig.  2.  At  A,  the  corn  is  represented  as  just  sprouted,  the  plum- 
ule, or  stalk,  tending  upward  and  the  tap  root  directly  downward.  In 
a  few  hours  after  sprouting,  little  rootlets  extend  from  the  end  of  the 
kernel  that  aid  in  the  rapid  growth  of  the  young  plant,  and  in  devel- 
oping the  first  tier  of  sucker  roots,  which  are  sent  out  a  few  days 
later.  The  kernel  with  its  rootlets  thus  attached  may  be  seen  at  B. 
A  few  days  later  the  roots  assume  the  appearance  seen  in  Fig.  3, 
when  the  stalk  is  about  five  inches  high. 


Corn  roots  at  a  growth  of  five  inches  of  stalk. 

This  shows  that  when  we  plant  a  kernel  of  corn  we  set  out  an  or- 
ganized plant,  containing  all  the  phenomena  to  perfect  fruitage,  in 
embryo,  as  much  as  when  the  nurseryman  removes  a  tree  from  the 
nursery."  In  planting  a  kernel  of  corn  in  the  soil  the  shelly  covering 
that  has  protected  the  cotj'ledon,  or  grain,  is  moistened  and  softened 
under  the  solar  heat  and  rain.  The  plumule  springs  upward  through 
the  soil,  and  the  radical  starts  downward,  feeding  for  da^'s  upon  the 
kernel  until  exhausted  of  its  plant  food  that  nature  so  wisely  pro- 
vided, ready  and  at  hand  for  its  weak  and  infantile  existence,  and 


then  upon  other  supplies  adapted  and  furnished  for  its  further  and 
continual  development.  As  the  chick  in  the  egg,  containing  all  the 
elements  of  the  full  fledged  bird,  breaks  forth  into  existence  and  sub- 
sists for  hours  and  daj's,  with  an  increased  development,  without  arti- 
ficial food,  so  the  corn  plant,  after  exhausting  nature's  supply  from 
the  seed  deposit,  has  in  preparation  a  power,  constantly  adding  num- 
berless roots  spongioles,  each  terminating  with  a  little  hard  substance 
at  their  point,  back  of  which  are  mouths,  so  to  speak,"  to  drink  in 
food,  as  they  travel  in  the  soil,  the  plumule  or  stalks  correspondingly 
developing  the  leaves  or  lungs  to  inhale  and  exhale  the  requisite  con- 
stituents beneficial  and  injurious  to  its  maximum  developments.  So 
if  we  observe  its  laws  of  expansion,  noticing  the  necessity  of  warm 
showers,  solar  heat  and  proper  fertilization,  much  of  the  latter  ren- 
dered available  by  thorough  cultivation  and  manipulation  of  the  soil, 
aided  in  the  chemistry  of  nature. 


Fig.  4. 


We  see  in  Fig.  4  the  stalk  divided  into  spaces  some  six  inches 
apart,  joints  or  nodes,  with  long  graceful  leaves  growing  out  upon 
opposite  sides,  with  a  hand  or  clasp  at  each  of  these  points  to  give  it 
strength. 


And  in  Fig.  5  at  the  time  silk  has  formed,  we  see  developed  at  the 
axle  of  each  leaf  on  the  lower  half  of  the  stalk  a  tiny  ear,  the  upper- 
most being  the  more  advanced  in  development,  to  the  number  of  half 
a  dozen  or  more,  always  upon  the  concave  side.  These  hollows  are 
to  accommodate  the  reception  of  the  ear ;  the  continuance  of  this 
concavity  and  the  multiplicity  of  the  nodes  shows  the  willingness  of 


nature  to  produce  an  ear  at  each  of  these  intei'stices,  and  if  we  could 
secure  this  full  development  of  nature,  how  wonderfull}^  we  could  in- 
crease our  harvest — even  five  or  six-fold.  And  here  is  the  possibility 
that  is  afforded  to  the  farmer  in  raising  an  increased  crop.  Now  sel- 
dom onh'  the  upper  ear  perfects  under  ordinar}'  culture,  though  at 
times  two,  three,  and  more  are  quite  well  developed,  showing  that 
here-  is  a  study  of  nature's  demand  overlooked  by  the  common  farm- 
er, which,  if  heeded,  easily  could  double  and  treble  his  ordinary  crop. 

Fig.  6. 


10 


Fig.  6.  The  leaves  have  been  removed  to  show  the  incipient  ears 
and  their  location,  of  which  I  have  just  been  speaking. 

Soon  after  the  stalk  has  reached  its  full  height,  the  stamens,  or 
tassel,  appear  ;  the  pistils  or  silks  also  are  seen  protruding  from 
the  point  of  each  ear,  and  the}^  are  attached  to  each  little  cell 
upon  the  cob  to  perfect  the  kernel,  first  forming  at  the  base  of 
the   ear   and   continuing  upward   until   finished    b}'  the  last   kernel 

Fig.  7. 


11 

upon  the  top  of  the  ear,  as  seen  in  Fig.  7.     During  all  this  time 
the  stamens  are  showering  down  the  pollen  upon  the  pistils  or  silks 
to  fertilize  or  fructify  by  induction.   By  this  it  seems  to  me  is  shown 
the  fallacy  recommended  by  some  to  remove  the  suckers,  as  I  believe 
them  an  absolute  necessity  to  produce  pollen  to  the  last  moment 
needed  for  perfect  fertilization.     The  boy  with  his  cultivator,  horse 
and  harness,  will  remember  how  they  were  covered  with  yellow  dust. 
Well,  that  was  the  life-giving  principle  to  the  perfection  of  the  ear ; 
for  if  the  connection  be  cut  off  or  hindered  no  kernels  upon  the  ear, 
but  vacant  cells,  is  the  result.   If  the  boy  should  tie  a  piece  of  paper 
over  the  little  germ  of  an  ear  so  none  of  the  pollen  could  fall  upon 
it,  he  would  see  the  truth  of  my  remark;  or  if  .he  will  observe  a 
stalk  of  corn,  far  removed  or  isolated  from  any  other  in  the  potato  * 
or  grain  field,  with  no  other  pollen  but  its  own  to  supply,  and  that 
subjected  to  the  wind,  carrying  much  of  it  beyond  and  out  of  reach 
of  its  own  benefit,  and  he  will  find  the  ear  upon  that  stalk  but  par- 
tially, if  at  all,  furnished  with  kernels.     This  speaks  volumes  of  un- 
written, yea,  hidden  mysteries  concerning  this  mysterious  plant. 
These  are  some  of  the  phenomena  one  meets  in  observing  the  botani- 
cal and  physical  growth  of  a  stalk  of  Indian  corn ;  the  awakening 
of    the    dry  kernel    to  life,   putting    forth    the    stalk    and  root; 
their  gradual  development,  the  tiny  ear,  the  flowering  of  the  plant, 
fertilization  of  its  growing  seed — all  would  seem  to  me  to  give  the 
observant  youth,  the  young  man  or  boy,  the  lady  or  girl,  a  beautiful 
theme  for  study ;  removing  the  tiresomeness  of  labor  of  the  farm 
boy  in  its  cultivation,  or  the  daughter  (when  she  beholds  the  full- 
grown  corn  field  standing  erect  with  its  leaves  fluttering  in  the  wind, 
resembling  as  one  has  said  "  so  many  knight  errants  with  their  hand- 
kerchiefs held  to  the  breeze"),  to  cheer  her  in  her  domestic  duties, 
it  would  seem  with  an  increased  love  and  ardor  for  the  farm.     Now 
I  have  specially  made  a  few  suggestions  upon  my  themes  for  the 
benefit  of  the  young  that  I  might  suggest  one  factor  in  life's  work 
upon  the  farm  that  could  bring  pleasure,  that  it  might  afford  means 
to  aid  in  increasing  a  higher  estimate  of  farm  life.     A  '.'  step-stone  " 
to  observation,  if  heeded,  mingled  with  thought  make  many  students 
of  nature,  drawing  them  nearer  to  "  Nature's  God."     But  there  is 
another  line  of  thought  yet,  after  all,  but  following  out   the  line 
spoken  of  and  suggestive,  the  goal  of  which  is,  How  shall  we  raise 
maximum  crops  ?   Allusion  to  climate  and  soil  has  been  made.   Now 
I  would  have  the  Vermont  farmer  attain  the  ideal  perfect  Indian 
corn  crop,  aiming  for  the  top  round  and  realizing  approved  results. 
To  this  end  I  would  allude  to  some  of  the  reputed  crops  of  New 
England  that  we  may  not  fix  the  standard  below.     When  the  Board 
of  Agriculture  convened  at  Westminster,  while  Prof.  Collier  was  sec- 
retary, a  farmer  of  that  place  stated  he  believed  it  possible  to  raise 
one  hundred  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre.     The  professor  astonished, 
said  he  wished  he  could  live  to  see  that  day,  just  as  if  thereby  his 
life  would  be  prolonged  beyond  three  score  years  and  ten.     But  in 
that  meeting  it  was  stated  in  two  instances  that  in  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober, by  a  disinterested  committee  to  harvest  and  report  for  compe- 
tition at  the  fair,  115  and  131  bushels  to  the  acre,  in  good  condition 


12 

for  the  time  of  the  year  to  crib,  had  been  produced  in  that  very 
town  ;  but  the  exception  by  the  professor  was  it  would  shrink  far 
below  the  100  bushels  when  merchantable,  or  in  the  sprinj^f  follow- 
ing-. Since  we  have  numerous  reports  of  crops  that  exceed  that.  In 
1881  upon  the  "  Long  Island  farm,"  the  editor  of  the  Neio  York 
Rural  on  four  acres  raised  113.69  bushels  per  acre,  and  on  one  acre 
159.37  bushels.  The  variety  was  "  Chester  County  Mammoth."  An- 
other acre  of  the  "  Blount "  variety  upon  the  same  farm  yielded 
134.44  bushels.  E.  A.  Bowditch  of  Framingham,  Mass.,  on  one  and 
one  half  acres  obtained  an  average  of  109.25  bushels  per  acre.  At 
Manchester,  Vt.,  a  boy  who  sought  for  the  prize  in  corn  raising  of- 
fered by  the  Burlington  College,  produced  127  bushels  at  harvest 
•time  per  acre.  Now  less  than  36  bushels  to  the  acre  upon  an  aver- 
age is  raised  upon  the  Vermont  farms,  producing  about  half  of  what 
we  consume;  the  remainder  bought  by  money  going  out  of  the  state, 
out  of  the  pockets  of  the  farmers.  This  in  view,  with  the  possibility 
that  has  and  can  be  attained,  ought  to  arouse  and  stimulate  the 
farmer  to  engage  more  extensively  in  corn  raising,  not  only  in  larger 
quantities  to  the  acre,  but  increased  acreage. 

"  But  what  system  V  I  have  said  corn  must  be  raised  on  corn 
land,  and  by  the  use  of  machinery  to  lessen  the  expense.  To  this 
end  make  the  piece  for  corn  one  piece,  if  practicable,  and  of  such  form 
that  the  rows  may  be  as  long  as  possible,  for  it  takes  the  horse  as 
long  to  turn  around  at  the  end  of  ten  rods  as  at  the  end  of  forty 
rods.  Now  when  the  piece  is  selected  there  is  back  of  all  this  as  the 
foundation  of  success,  the  necessity  of  keeping  in  mind  the  future 
fertility  of  the  soil,  that  in  a  system  of  rotation  certain  crops  store 
up  without  expense  constituents  adapted  to  grow  maximum  corn 
crops ;  and  one  of  the  most  essential  is  a  clover  crop,  leaving  the 
soil  in  the  very  best  mechanical  condition  at  the  same  time.  In  the 
abundance  of  its  decomposing  roots  the  soil  is  charged  with  nitro- 
gen, phosphoric  acid  and  potash,  all  necessary  food  for  the 
corn  plant.  I  find  no  condition  of  the  soil  so  adapted  to  a  corn  crop 
as  an  inverted  clover  sod  well  prepared,  and  here  is  an  important 
factor  in  the  system — good  ploiciin.g.  I  care  not  how  narrow  the  fur- 
rows, but  that  every  inch  of  the  ground  should  be  turned,  the  depth 
should  vary  as  regards  soil,  and  the  amount  of  manure  to  be  used, 
usually  from  five  to  seven  inches  deep  for  most  soils.  No  arbitrary  rule 
can  be  used.  Next  is  thorough  pulverization,  a  very  important  ele- 
ment in  the  work  ;  a  seed  bed  the  air  can  penetrate,  a  soil  made  fine, 
unlocking  pla^^t  food  readyto  be  used  as  the  corn  roots  in  their  rap- 
id growth,  need  it.  To  raise  this  increased  production  most,  if  not 
all  soils  require  an  additional  supply  of  proper  fertilizer.  What  this 
is,  and  the  amount  and  application  is  the  desired  information.  A 
few  years  ago  the  farmer,  wishing  to  enlarge  his  crop,  and  being 
baffled  by  his  ignorance,  the  chemist  stepped  in  and  told  him  to 
send  a  sample  of  the  soil  he  wished  to  plant  to  corn  to  him 
and  he  would  tell  him  what  it  contained  and  wherein  it  was  deficient 
in  the  requisite  constituents  to  properly  feed  his  crop  of  corn,  but 
the  chemist  did  not  tell  him  what  was  available  plant  food,  or  could 
economically  be  rendered  so  by  the  farmer  in  due  season  for  his  crop. 


13 

The  soils  of  his  own  little  farm,  even,  were  so  varied  in  their  geo- 
logical formation  that  the  laboratory  unfolded  insufficient  help.  Then 
another  view  by  the  chemist  was  offered  the  farmer  by  Prof.  Stock- 
bridge,  saying,  "  I  have  analyzed  this  corn  plant,  dissected  it  of  its 
parts,  and  have  prepared  a  compound,  a  fertilizer  giving  you  the 
amount  requisite  to  produce  forty  or  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre,  as  you 
desire,  only  varying  in  quantity,  and  exacting  pro  rata  equivalent 
for  your  money.  This  method  of  fertilization  far  exceeded  the  first, 
yet  was  impracticable,  for  while  the  professor  fiirnished  a  perfect 
corn  fertilizer,  he  did  not  know  how  many  elements  in  the  farmer's 
soil  were  already  there  in  abundance,  which  he  proposed  to  furnish 
at  the  farmer's  expense;  besides,  overfertilizing  with  many  constitu- 
ents, if  furnished  and  applied  was  injurious,  although  this  system 
was  in  many  respects  meritorious  yet  impracticable.  It  left  the 
farmer  no  other  alternative  except  the  study  of  his  own  soil  for  this 
crop  or  any  other  by  plot  fertilization,  finding  what  is  needed  out- 
side of  his  farm  manures  well  husbanded  and  applied,  and  using 
those  only  required  to  give  him  a  desired  crop.  The  same  experi- 
mentation is  commendable,  and  as  a  rule  is  growing  in  favor  among 
the  best  farmers ;  also,  to  apply  all  manures  in  the  fall  or  winter,  to 
take  advantage  of  the  moisture,  and  not  apply  in  late  spring  or  sum- 
mer, to  be  followed  with  the  dry  seasons,  that  we  seem  to  be  doomed 
to  experience,  when  there  is  not  moisture  enough  to  dissolve  the  fer- 
tilizers, making  soluble  food  in  season  for  the  plant's  necessities. 

I  will  now  tell  you  my  idea  about  the  stand  of  plants  for  an  ideal 
maximum  crop.  As  a  rule  in  Vermont,  if  the  soil  was  void  of  nox- 
ious weeds  or  tenacious  grass  roots,  I  would  place  them  in  drills 
from  three  feet  to  three  feet  six  inches  apart  and  two  stalks  to  the 
foot  in  the  drill,  making  the  rows  perfectly  straight,  enabling  very 
thorough  and  close  cultivation  by  machinery.  Yet  as  a  rule  I  would 
recommend  check-planting  upon  most  soils.  All  things  considered 
the  crop  can  be  raised  more  cheaply,  though  not  quite  as  large,  in 
perfect  squares  three  feet  to  three  feet  four  inches  apart  each  way, 
with  three  to  four  stalks  in  the  hill,  preferring  three  bearing  stalks, 
although  this  varies  somewhat  with  the  soil  and  variety  of  the  seed, 
etc.     And  here  is  a  factor  that  is  underestimated, 

COEN   FOR    SEED. 

I  have  said  corn  is  flexible,  can  be  moulded,  fixed  with  desired 
characteristics  as  one  wishes.  "While  so  easily  influenced,  I  would 
endeavor  by  isolation,  careful  cultivatiou,  and  a  removal  of  the  bar- 
ren stalks  and  one- eared  stalks,  to  render  permanent  those  charac^ 
teristics  necessary  to  raising  twin  or  triplet  ears,  and  from  such 
stalks  I  would  select  seed,  for  the  same  law  follows  here  that  we  ad- 
here to  in  the  propagation  of  the  animal  kingdom.  ' '  Like  begets 
like."  Constant,  undeviating  observance  of  these  rules  would  achieve 
much.  Mr.  G.  W.  Bradley  of  Hampden,  Conn.,  exhibited  stalks  of 
corn  containing  eight  and  nine  ears.  This  was  the  "Tennessee" 
variety,  exhibited  at  the  National  Congress  at  New  Haven.  This 
shows  the  possibilities  in  the  development  of  this  crop  by  properly 
assisting  nature.     I  assure  you,  farmers,  as  I  said  in  the  outset,  we 


14 

do  not  understand  the  capabilities  of  the  soil  we  till  or  the  plants 
we  cultivate.  That  there  is  a  great  variety  of  corn  commendable  to 
cultivate  I  admit,  yet,  on  the  whole,  I  think  the  eight  rowed  has  the 
most  friends.  Select  the  seed  with  medium  length  of  ear,  large  ker- 
nel, straight,  tight  rows,  small  cob,  nearly  as  large  at  the  tip  as  at 
the  butt,  grovnng  small,  leafy  stalks. 

NEXT   IS   THE   PLANTING. 

If  by  hand  I  prefer  to  mix  the  seed  in  lye  soap  and  immediately 
roll  in  plaster,  preparing  it  at  intervals  but  shortly  before  putting 
into  the  ground.  What  thus  adheres  to  the  kernel  serves  as  quite 
an  auxiliary  in  timely  fertilization.  Still  I  prefer  to  plant  with  a 
machine,  thinking  it  more  sure  to  germinate,  and  likely  to 
drop  the  kernels  more  evenly,  leaving  the  corn  in  fresh  soil  below 
the  surface  so  that  the  smoothing  harrow  can  be  used  as  soon  as  de- 
sired after  planting,  and  be  continued  in  use  until  corn  is  six  inches 
high,  accelerating  the  growth  and  rendering  cultivation  more  easy. 
Again,  if  desired  to  use  some  active  fertilizer  in  hill,  there  are  plant- 
ers that  will  faithfully  do  it  in  quantities  as  desired,  and  in  a  man- 
ner not  to  injure  the  germ  of  the  seed.  This  method  increases  the 
growth  and  advances  the  time  of  maturity,  and  if  the  soil  of  the  field 
has  a  ready,  full  supply  of  food  requisite  and  in  condition  to  per- 
fectly continue  the  growth,  a  fine  crop  is  assured.  No  doubt 
that  the  best  fertilizer  is  barnyard  manure  of  the  best  qual- 
ity, as  it  holds  the  food  in  a  slow  yielding  grasp,  of  a  large  vegetable 
quantity  of  matter,  to  resist  drouth.  Yet  often  it  can  be,  as  I  have 
said,  supplemented  by  aid  of  concentrated  food  during  the  early 
growth,  that  no  stunt  may  be  allowed  to  the  crop.  I  again  assert 
that  constant  stirring  of  the  soil  is  fertilizing  the  crop,  so  I  would 
run  the  best  cultivator,  horse-hoe,  or  any  other  machine  by  whatever 
name  that  does  the  most  efficient  work  in  place  of  the  hand  hoe,  and 
continue  to  use  it  as  long  as  the  corn  was  not  broken  down  bypass- 
ing through  it ;  not  too  deep  or  too  near  the  hill,  but  keep  all  the 
weeds  and  grass  eradicated,  clean  culture  and  tolerably  level,  though 
in  "  quack  grass  "  localities  there  is  no  objection  to  covering  the 
grass  up  around  the  hill,  serving  as  a  mulch,  and  my  experience  is 
that  it  is  advantageous  to  the  crop.  A  boy  of  fifteen  can 
tend  forty  acres  with  one  horse  with  the  foot  cultivator  or 
sulky.     Then  comes  the 

CUTTING   UP    COEN. 

Here  comes  another  important  era  in  this  industry  of  corn  raising, 
by  experience.  I  have  learned,  and  am  going  to  say  to  you,  that  I 
can  raise  corn  for  the  fodder.  As  I  am  a  producer  of  milk,  I  have 
learned  that  an  acre  of  corn  fodder  is  equal  to  a  good  fair  acre  of 
grass,  and  when  I  plow  up  such  a  piece  of  land  I  am  not  diminish- 
ing my  hay  crop;  and  yet  it  is  just  as  necessary  to  cut  it  at  the  right 
time  as  it  is  my  grass,  and  by  so  doing  I  have  learned  another  fact 
— that  the  corn  is  better.  As  soon  as  the  majority  of  the  ears  are 
specked  or  glazed,  even  if  many  are  in  the  milk,  seldom  a  husk 
turned  white.     I  cut  it  as  fast  as  possible,  five  rows  into  one  of 


15 

stocks,  in  good  corn,  setting  around  every  other  hill  uncut,  making 
about  fifteen  hills  in  a  stook,  well  set,  equally,  around  and  close  up 
to  the  hill  with  an  inclination  jusst  enough  to  give  stability  and  firm- 
ness to  its  standing  posture ;  then,  with  a  good  band  of  rye  straw, 
turn  well  over  the  top  and  bind  firmly.  Be  sure  it  is  erect,  giving 
the  ends  a  certain  twist  and  it  will  stay  as  long  as  desired,  much 
longer  than  when  the  end  is  tucked  under,  and  it  binds  much  more 
closely.  If  the  work  is  well  done  it  will  stand  until  winter ;  not  one 
in  a  thousand  will  fall  down.  Put  up  in  this  way  it  resists  the 
storms  until  harvested,  is  green,  succulent,  and  readily  eaten  by  all 
stock.  In  good  weather,  in  about  three  weeks  from  the  time  of  cut- 
ting, it  will  be  ready  for  husking.  If  the  sap  is  not  dried  out 
sufficient  to  pack  the  fodder  in  safety,  alternate  layers  of  straw  or 
hay  will  prevent  its  moulding,  after  which  pack  in  large  bulk,  evenly 
as  you  would  hay,  and  there  is  no  trouble  in  keeping.  I  find  it 
equal,  if  not  worth  more,  than  the  best  hay  in  producing  milk,  and 
I  have  stated,  and  again  state,  that  I  kept  ten  two-year-old  steers 
upon  eleven  acres  of  matured  corn  fodder  nearly  through  the  win- 
ter, and  they  were  so  well  kept  that  they  went  the  first  of  July  fol- 
lowing for  beef ;  and  it  is  the  practice  of  the  farmers  upon  the  river 
to  take  to  winter  two-year-old  steers,  (the  usual  price  being  ten 
dollars  a  head)  and  keep  thein  exclusively  on  corn  fodder  and  straw. 
Some  of  them  go  for  beef  before  turned  out,  the  remainder  for  early 
beef.  Now  one  of  the  reasons  why  I  shall  urge  the  farmers  to  increase 
their  corn  crop  is  for  fodder,  increasing  the  keeping  capacity  of  their 
farms,  and  often  enabling  them  to  sell  the  best  hay  at  a  good  price, 
feeding  that  unsalable  corn  fodder,  really  the  best  forage  on  the  farm. 
The  introduction  of  the  silo  and  the  soiling  crop  is  fast  showing  the 
farmer  the  value  of  this  corn  plant.  Then  again  the  most  potent 
consideration  I  urge  in  increasing  the  corn  crop  is  to  save  this  terri- 
ble outlay  for  Western  com,  when  the  large  majority  of  farmers  in 
Vermont  can  raise  it  cheaper  than  they  can  buy  it.  We  generated 
this  habit  of  purchasing  grain  during  the  war,  going  to  the  mill  and 
depot,  often  getting  it  charged,  bag  after  bag,  until  a  frightful  bill 
made  its  appearance.  Farms  deteriorated,  indebtedness  rolled  upon 
us,  and  we  were  reminded  of  the  necessity  of  being  a  more  self- 
sustaining  people.  We  must  buy  less  and  sell  more,  and  this  is  one 
of  the  important  steps  to  be  taken.  When  I  interviewed  Ex-Gov. 
Smith,  who  kindly  requested  his  clerks  to  give  me  a  summary  of 
what  Western  corn  they  bring  into  the  state,  he  stated  it  was  about 
one-half  of  the  whole  quantity  imported.  This  would  give  an  aggre- 
gate of  2,182,642.  Now  we  raise  2,014,271  bushels.  Then  if  the 
35,000  farms  in  Vermont  would  increase  the  productiveness  of  their 
farms  in  this  one  crop  by  raising  sixty  bushels  more  than  now  upon 
each  farm,  we  would  wipe  out  this  outlay,  besides  increasing 
the  forage  crop  for  our  stock,  could  keep  more  stock,  making 
more  manure,  enriching  our  farms,  and  building  up  the  strength  of 
our  agriculture.  To  this  end  I  have  urged  the  farmers  to  raise  more 
com,  corn  in  all  forms  for  maturity,  soiling  or  silo,  or  all,  as  the  farm 
presents  proper  facilities.  With  an  increasing  dry  climate,  with  the 
future  agricultural  prosperity  of  Vermont  hinged  upon  the  cultiva- 


16 

tion  of  this  plant,  that  as  our  pastures  are  sensibly  failing  in  their 
productiveness,  striking  a  vital  blow  against  successful  dairy  hus- 
bandry, apparently  the  leading  industry  for  the  future,  the  culti- 
vation of  this  plant  to  supplement  the  pasture  is  very  important, 
and  growing  in  favor  each  and  every  year ;  and  then  fodder  corn  for 
fall  and  winter  feeding  is  highly  prized,  as  so  much  can  be  raised 
upon  the  acre ;  then  the  raising  of  it  for  ensilage  has  been  found  to 
be  a  great  discovery.  No  new  system  with  such  a  wide  departure 
from  the  old  custom  has  been  so  universally  approved  when  tested. 
These  many  methods  in  which  com  can  be  raised  to  a  profit  ought 
to  inspire  the  Vermont  farmer  to  increase  its  cultivation,  thereby 
adding  to  individual  prosperity  and  to  the  whole  state  a  financial 
revolution — one  million  two  hundred  seventy-nine  thousand  five 
hundred  and  eighty  five  dollars  annually  ($1,279,585) — saying  noth- 
ing of  doubling  the  amount  of  our  stover  for  stock  food,  all  reserved 
to  build  up  our  noble  state.  Now,  in  conclusion,  let  me  say  we  may 
prepare  a  nice  seed  bed,  and  introduce  fine  seed  at  the  right  time 
into  the  soil.     It  comes  quickly,  but 

THE    CROW. 

As  I  treat  him  different  from  many,  what  I  shall  say  may  be  an 
innovation  upon  the  practice  of  the  general  farmer.  In  raising  com 
it  is  very  essential  to  me  that  the  crow  accompany  me :  he  is  my 
friend,  and  I  form  a  copartnership  with  him ;  nature  and  myself  find 
the  capital  and  he  puts  in  work  in  offset.  I  say  the  farmers'  friend, 
a  friend  to  the  agriculturist.  I  never  disturb  him  to  injure.  Though 
he  has  his  faults,  yet  his  virtues  far  exceed  his  vices.  His  music 
does  not  strike  the  musical  ear  pleasantly,  yet  remember  he  is  a 
scavenger,  a  glutton ;  don't  forget  his  consumption  of  the  grasshop- 
per, the  grub,  the  cut- worm,  the  potato  bug,  the  decaying  animals; 
please  give  him  credit  for  all  this.  "Now,"  says  the  crow  hater, 
"  what  about  pulling  com  ?  If  you  wish  to  raise  a  maximum  crop, 
do  you  wish  to  have  one  hill  in  ten  pulled  by  the  crow?" 
No  ;  I  have  been  for  twenty-four  years  raising  from  fifteen  to  thirty 
acres  annually,  and,  all  told,  I  never  had  one-fourth  of  an  acre  pulled 
up  by  the  crows.  "Well,"  says  the  crow-hater,  "how  do  you  keep 
them  off  ?  "  I  don't  do  that ;  I  invite  them  on  to  my  field  by  sow- 
ing com  over  the  surface,  four  quarts  to  the  acre,  and  when  the  cut- 
worms and  grubs  are  not  plenty  enough  they  will  take  a  little  corn. 
Sow  as  soon  as  done  planting ;  and  you  may  take  the  poorest  corn 
you  have,  even  rat  eaten  from  the  bottom  of  the  corn  bin ;  he  is  not 
particular;  all  he  wants  is  enough.  Now,  for  the  comfort  of  those 
who  swear  eternal  vengeance  on  my  friend  crow,  erecting  all  the 
scarecrows  imaginable  from  twine,  wind-mills  and  hoop-skirts,  even 
hunting  their  young  Sundays,  let  them  try  one  more  remedy.  I  will 
relate  an  incident  which  it  is  said  occurred  in  Cattaraugus  county, 
N.  T.,  of  a  man  who  found  his  ideal  image  of  the  most  hideous  per- 
son he  could  imagine  and  proceeded  to  construct  it.  When  com- 
pleted he  started  to  the  field,  as  a  last  resort  to  keep  the  "  pesky  " 
crows  out  of  his  field,  and  the  crows  began  to  make  an  unusual 
noise,  and  in  a  few  days  they  returned  the  corn  they  pulled  that 
year  and  part  they  pulled  the  year  before. 


?w 


:4 


.0    4'' 


